By Amber D'Alvia

In light of the Coronavirus, going virtual has become an increasingly more popular option for almost all industries. Taking events online, specifically, has become a necessity. Ensuring the health of your attendees is just ONE of the many benefits of virtual events. Moving events online can reduce costs, carbon footprints, and make attendance accessible to a wider audience. 

Virtual events allow organizers, speakers, attendees, and sponsors to interact remotely through a virtual environment. Meeting rooms, webinars, and live Q&A sessions are unique spaces that allow businesses to network and engage with their clients, partners, customers, or employees remotely. Innovative approaches and tools are quickly emerging to closely align in-person events with the virtual channel. Even some of the largest conferences have gone partially or completely digital. But regardless of the size of your event, if you’re a virtual event pro or if you’re just getting your feet wet in the virtual event world, the following five things are required for your event to succeed.

1) Make sure you have a clear objective for your virtual event. Is your goal to set up a virtual “meet- up” to give your remote team some face-to-face time? Or perhaps your goal is to showcase a new product or service to potential leads. Maybe you are looking for an audience of potential sponsors to participate in a larger event.  Just like with in-person events, you need to determine the specific goals of your event before any other development can take place.

2) Market your event properly. Branding your event provides continuity, integrity, and professionalism to your company and event. You should consider including an event specific web page, social media promotions, targeted PPC campaigns, and directed email marketing in your event marketing strategy. Make sure that the branding is consistent throughout all of facets of your event and marketing plan.

3) Choose an appropriate platform upon which to hold your event. Your audience size, objectives, activities, speakers, and more will all affect your decision. Different event platforms offer different features and can integrate various engaging and interactive elements. Many hosting platforms offer unique lobby areas, information desks, and lounges that can be customizable to your company and event, just as an in-person venue would be set up.

4) Establish the tone of the event, specifically who your host, moderator, or speaker will be. You can hire a professional moderator, or you can have an in-house team member do the job. Whoever you choose should be able to speak clearly, respond to questions fielded through social media channels, and introduce additional speakers. Your host should also be comfortable in front of the camera without relying on a script. Keep in mind that you can have two hosts that can speak to each other as well as to the audience. This can be really beneficial if the two hosts have a strong rapport and can respond to one another in an entertaining and creative way, facilitating the flow of the event.

5) Lastly, timing matters. Not just length of the event, but also the date and time of hosting your event. Prior to locking in your event dates, pick a date and time and make sure you are not competing with any major holiday, and consider the time zones as well. 

Have questions about virtual events? Let’s create a successful event together. Contact Creative Fuel. We can help you get your footing in the virtual marketplace.